Aqara, a leading provider of smart home technology, is getting serious about the future of the connected home. With a comprehensive expansion of Matter compatibility, the company is not only bringing over 50 new device categories into its ecosystem, but also opening the door to an unprecedented level of platform independence. The latest development shows how Matter is making the smart home simpler, more interoperable and future-proof – and how Aqara is at the forefront of this movement.
- Aqara supports over 50 different Matter device types, including smart home appliances, sensors and energy components.
- The Advanced Matter Bridging function allows the transfer of complex Aqara functions to other Matter platforms.
- Matter compatibility is available on almost all Aqara Hubs from firmware version 4.3.4.
- With the Hub M3, Aqara also enables the integration of third-party devices into the Aqara Home app.
Building bridges instead of setting boundaries
With the aim of simplifying interoperability between smart home platforms, Aqara is placing the Advanced Matter Bridging feature at the heart of its Matter strategy. What started with the Hub M3 is now available across the entire range of Matter-enabled Aqara controllers – including the Hub M2, M1S (Gen 1 & 2), E1, G3 and G5 Pro.
This bridging function allows smart features such as on-device AI detection in cameras or fall detection in the FP2 presence sensor to be transferred to other platforms as virtual sensors. Even specially configured automations, for example based on real-time power consumption, can be exported via Matter. This removes the previous restriction to the Aqara ecosystem, and users benefit from seamless collaboration with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant and other platforms.
Over 50 device categories – Matter becomes suitable for the masses
The Aqara Home app (from version 5.1.9) now recognizes an impressive range of Matter-enabled devices. In addition to classics such as lamps and sensors, the list now also includes large household appliances such as washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, hobs and even vehicle charging stations. Smart energy components such as solar panels and battery storage systems now also find their place in the Aqara universe.
This massive expansion not only means more choice for users, but also a future-proof basis for a comprehensive, customizable smart home. Particularly exciting: Aqara optimizes its Thread Border Routers so that they can be seamlessly integrated into existing Thread networks from other manufacturers. This not only increases stability, but also makes setup noticeably easier.
Future-proof and flexible
By opening up to third-party providers and constantly expanding the supported device categories, Aqara is now one of the most advanced Matter ecosystems on the market. The implementation works on the software side – current Aqara controllers receive the extended functions via a firmware update (version 4.3.4), while the associated app is available from version 5.1.4 (or 5.1.9 for new device types).
This strategy makes it clear that anyone who relies on Aqara today does not have to make a decision – neither for a specific platform nor for a specific manufacturer. Matter serves as a connecting element, and Aqara is doing everything it can to keep this promise.
Conclusion
With its extended Matter compatibility, Aqara impressively demonstrates what an open, cross-platform smart home can look like. Advanced Matter Bridging and support for numerous new device types make the Aqara ecosystem more flexible than ever. With firmware version 4.3.4 and app version 5.1.9, the new Matter world is already available on current Aqara devices – free of charge and ready for the future. Further details can be found on the official homepage.
